ODESA, Ukraine — Like many expecting parents, Oleksandra and Oleksandr Chebotar were eagerly awaiting the birth of their daughter. The way it happened, however, was unlike anything they had ever imagined.
The couple had gone to Maternity Hospital No. 5 in the port city of Odesa in southern Ukraine. The facility is known for its comprehensive maternity care and had earned some local fame as the birthplace of quintuplets. But just after Ms. Chebotar delivered her baby, an air raid alarm sounded over the city, which remains a regular target of Russian missile and drone attacks. Using a mobile incubator, the medical team quickly moved the newborn baby and her panicked parents to the hospital’s underground bomb shelter along with other patients.
Maternity Hospital No. 5 in Odesa has faced unprecedented difficulties amid the ongoing war. It has been forced to undertake significant changes to support pregnant women and new mothers as they navigate the challenges of giving birth in a war zone.
The war has led to a 12 per cent increase in birth complications at the maternity hospital, a statistic that highlights the severe impact of stress and disruptions on pregnant women — within the context of increased ongoing shelling.
"Pregnant women are not only coming here from Odesa, but from across the South, close to the front line,” said Dr. Igor Shpak, a leading obstetrician at the hospital. "The stress and disruptions from the conflict have led to higher rates of Caesarean sections and premature deliveries."
The human cost
Another person taking shelter in the hospital’s bunker was Radionova Alevtyna Viktorivna. The expectant mother was waiting for a medical check-up when the air raid sirens sounded.
The construction of new underground bunkers has become a critical initiative to support and protect expectant mothers. Ms. Radionova said there is a growing need for secure, well-equipped spaces where women can safely continue their pregnancies despite the ongoing threats. Maternity Hospital No. 5 recently built and reinforced its air raid shelter. These bunkers are designed to provide security while also being equipped with the necessary medical facilities to ensure that health-care services can continue uninterrupted during attacks.
The situation in Odesa's maternity hospitals reflects a broader crisis affecting Ukraine's health-care system. There is an urgent need for continued support and global attention to improve conditions for maternity care in conflict zones.
The health-care crisis deepens
The energy infrastructure in Odesa — as well as all of Ukraine — continues to come under repeated attacks, leading to significant disruptions and increased costs for basic services. With power lines and generation capacities damaged, the price of electricity and heating has steeply increased, placing an additional financial burden on families already struggling amid the conflict. These attacks not only affect daily living conditions but also impede hospitals’ abilities to provide consistent care as power outages disrupt critical medical equipment and services.
The war has damaged over 1,400 health institutions across Ukraine, with 193 completely destroyed as of September 2023. This destruction has left a significant gap in maternal and newborn care, with 23 per cent of facilities unable to provide these essential services.
Furthermore, the constant shelling has taken a severe toll on the mental health of its residents, including pregnant women. Reports indicate an increase in premature births and higher rates of Caesarean sections across the country, which is directly linked to the heightened levels of stress experienced by expectant mothers. The psychological strain exacerbates the already challenging conditions under which these women are carrying and delivering their babies. Exclusive breastfeeding rates for the first six months have also declined due to financial constraints and inadequate facilities, increasing newborn morbidity and creating a need for breastmilk in hospitals.
With the ongoing war and the need to rebuild, Government efforts are stretched, and essential social and health service systems are weakening. UNFPA is working to fill critical gaps, particularly in sexual and reproductive health and rights – areas that are crucial for the well-being of women and newborns.
UNFPA and partners are providing essential supplies, medical equipment and support services. The support is vital to women in Odesa to receive the necessary care to safely navigate pregnancy and childbirth.
Support for Maternity Hospital No. 5
Since 2022, UNFPA has provided over UAH 2.8 million (US$68,850) in assistance, including UAH 1.6 million ($39,300) for transport incubators with artificial lung ventilation devices, and nearly UAH 800,000 ($19,700) for medicines and consumables.
Obstetrician Dr. Igor Shpak emphasized the critical role of external aid: "Without this support, we wouldn't have the essential supplies we need, like mobile incubators for moving premature babies during emergencies."
Support for Maternity Hospital No. 5 has been provided as part of the humanitarian response activities by UNFPA in Ukraine, with financial support from the European Union, Denmark, Canada, France, Japan, Spain, the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea.
"We need the world to see what's happening here," Dr. Shpak stressed. "Our mothers and babies deserve better, and we will continue to provide these essential services."
